Felt stretching machine



J. G. BOWDEN El AL 1,974,859

FELT STRETCHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9, 1951 4 Sheets -Sheet l Sept. 25,1 934.

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an! Mag? II M M i MA -E NT if LII Sept. 25, 1934. J. G. BOWDEN ET ALFELT STRETCHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 9, 1931 p 25, J. G.BOWDEN El Al. 1,974,859

FELT STRETCHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 1934-J. G. BOWDEN tr AL 1,974,859

FELT STRETCHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Hm/1111mm"Patented Sept. 25, 1934 UNITED srATEs 1,974,859 FELT STRETCHING, MACHINEJames G. Bowden and John-W Norton, 'Millbury, Mass, assignors toThe'Felters Company, Boston, Mesa, a corporation of MassachusettsApplication September 9, 1931, Serial No; 561,852

9 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for stretching felt and other webs offabric.

The process ofmaking felt usually involves several fulling operations. Atypical apparatus 5 for performing this operation consists of a woodontrough equipped with mallets that pound the felt while it is steamed. Inmaking a good grade of felt the web will be subjected to, say, seven oreight fulling operations. Between .these operations the web must betaken out of the trough, the wrinkles pulled out to some'extent, and itis then stretched in a direction transverse to the length of the web.This stretching operation is performed by hand. Two men pullsimultaneously on opposite edges of the web of felt, pulling againsteach other, then pass along a short length of it, say two or three feet,and pull again, these operations being repeated until the entire web hasbeen stretched. The amount of stretch given to the fabric in'this wayvaries with the weight and energy of the workmen, the state of theweather, and the time of day. Usually it is customary after the fabrichas been pulled to run it through a measuring machine to .see whether ithas been stretched sufiiciently.

Notwithstanding the fact that this method is very crude, laborious andrelatively expensive, it is, nevertheless, the method which has alwaysbeen used, at least for a great many years, and is still the universalpractice. In addition to the disadvantages just mentioned, it may alsobe noted that this operation is extremely hard on the hands, andparticularly on the knuckles, of the workmen. It is a common experienceto see the skin worn off the knuckles of the workmen who perform thispulling operation.

The present invention 'aims to devise a machine for performing this workin an efiicient' and expeditious manner.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from'thefollowing description when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings, I

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine constructed in accordancewith this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe machine shown in Fig. 1;

, Fig. 3 is an end viewof the machine; t

Fig. 4 is an edge view, partly in section, of one of the carriers andth'e adjusting means therefor;

Fig. 5 is a front view on a larger scale illustrating the constructionof one of the grippers;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a gripper and the supporting and operatingmeans therefor;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the friction device usedwith each of theadjusting nuts; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an arrangement for adjustably supportingan edge guide for the web.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the machine there shown comprisestwo carriers indicated at 2'and 3, respectively, both mounted to revolveon horizontal axes and supported in vertical planes which diverge fromeach other. The carriers are supportedon shafts 4 and 5, respectively,which are mounted in suitable bearings and these shafts are connectedtogether adjacent to the point of intersection of their axes by mitergears 6 and7, Fig. 2. In order todrive these shafts and their carriersthe shaft 5 is equipped with a sprocket wheel 8 which is connected by achain 9 to a similar wheel on the shaft of an electric motor 10, Fig. 1.

Mounted on each ofthe carriers 2 and 3 are two series of grippers, theconstruction of which is best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Referring to thesefigures it will be seen that each gripper includes a relativelystationary jaw 12, a movable jaw 13, and a bracket 14 on which both ofthese jaws are pivoted, the bracket being bolted or riveted tothecarrier The jaw 12 has a relatively long grooved face for engagementwith the felt 'while the jaw 13 is provided with a long rib to fit inthe groove of the jaw 12, the web gripping surfaces of these parts 12and 13 being rounded to grip the felt without tearing or cutting it.-The relatively stationary jaw also includes an elongated T-shaped arm 15at the opposite side of the pivot from the groove in the jaw, the bar atthe end of this arm being curved around the axis of the carrier andbeing designed to engage the tensioned portion of the web of felt at apoint spaced inwardlyfrom the edge of the web. Normally this jaw is heldin approximatelythe position shown in Fig. 5 by means of a spring 16,Fig. 6, the ends of which are coiled around the pivot, this springtending to swing the jaw 12 in a clockwise direction, .as seen in Figs.4 and 5. Such movement is limited by the engagement of the arm with apart of the bracketl i. The gripper mechanism also includes a. slide 17which is supported in a dove-tail guideway formed in the bracket 14, asbest shown in Fig; 13, and a link 18 which connects this slide with theswinging jaw 13. At the inner end of the slide 17 itcarries a roll 20which runs in the groove of a cam located immediately beside thecarrier, the cam for the carrier 3 being shownat 21, and a similar cambeing provided for the carrier 2. The cam 21 is secured rigidly to astationary bearing bracket 23 while the cam for the carrier 2 is securedto a similar bracket 24. It will be clear from an inspection of Fig. 4that when the roll 20 is in the part a of the path of the cam 21, thegripper will be held in its closed position with the movable jaw 13approximately in contact With the relatively stationary jaw 12, the

two being separated merely by the thickness of the web of fabric whichthey are gripping. It will also be evident that when the carrier 3 isrotated far enough to bring the roll 20 into the offset portion b of thecam path, the slide 19 then will be moved inwardly, thus operatingthrough the link 18 to swing the movable jaw 13 outwardly radially ofthe carrier into an open position, approximately as shown in Fig. 5.

The machine thus includes two circular series of grippers mounted torevolve about diverging axes, the two series being supported in opposedrelationship. Also, that the grippers on each series are arranged to beoperated by cams which will cause the grippers to open at a certainpoint in their path of travel and to close at a later period. Asindicated in Fig. 3, the carriers rotate *in a clockwise direction, andthe grippers are opened when they reach an approximately horizontalposition at the right-hand side, Fig. 3, of the machine and remain openuntil they arrive in an approximately horizontal position at thelefthand side of the machine and remain closed while they swing acrossthe upper half of their path of movement.

The web W of felt preferably, but not necessarily, comes to the machinewound up in a roll B, Fig. 1. The web is unwound and led over a guideroll 26 and a guide bar 27, Figs. 1 and 2, and its opposite edges areguided into the open grippers at the forward side of the machine wherethe grippers of the two series are closest to each other. Immediatelyafter the edges of the web have been entered between the grippers theyare closed by their respective cams, thus seizing the margins of the webfirmly. As the carriers continue to revolve in unison, the opposedgrippers holding a given length of web move away from each other as theytravel through the upper por-v tions of their paths of rotation due tothe divergent location of the carriers, and they thus stretch the webtransversely. This stretching ac-- tion continues until the grippers areopened at the rearward or delivery side of the machine, these operationscontinuing until the entire web of felt has been run through the machineand stretched.

In order to assist in guiding the margins of the web into the opengrippers at the front of the machine, guide rods 28 and 29 are mountedon the stationary guide bar 2'? to engage the edge portions of the web.These rods are carried by sleeves 30 and 31, respectively, which areslidable on the bar 27, each sleeve being equipped with a screw or bolt32 for securing it in its adjusted '3 position.

The web may be held more tightly in the machine by mounting guide wheels34 and 35 on the shafts 4 and 5, respectively, where they will rotatewith the carriers and will serve to increase the degree of stretchimparted to the felt, as willbe evident from an inspection of Fig. 2.

' In addition to stretching the felt this machine may also be made toperform the measuring operation at the same time. For this purpose a1neasuring dial 36 is mounted on a bracket 37, Fig. 3,

. other.

and is provided with a toothed edge to engage a worm 33 which is drivenfrom the shaft 4 by the gear 40 and pinion 41. A stationary pointer 42cooperates with a scale on the dial 36 to indicate yardage.

For the purpose of adjusting the two carriers toward and from each otherto accommodate webs of different widths, the brackets 23 and 24 whichsupport the carriers are mounted for adjustment in a general directiontoward and from each The brackets 23 and 24 are supported on or includeplatforms 43 and 44, respectively, Figs. 3 and 4, and the platform 44 issupported on two rods or shafts 45-45 by means of rolls 4646, theplatform 43 being supported on similar shafts 47 by means of rolls 48,Fig. 4. The rods or shafts 45-45 extend parallel to the shaft 4 and aresupported in stationary blocks or brackets mounted on bed plates 50 and51, Fig. 2. Similarly, the shafts 4"(4'7 extend parallel to the shaft 5and are supported in bearing blocks mounted on bed pieces 52 and 53.This mounting of the two carriers permits their adjustment toward andfrom each other in directions parallel to their respective shafts 4 and5.

In order to adjust the carriers an adjusting shaft 54, Figs. 1, 2 and 3,is mounted below the shaft 4 and parallel thereto and is connected by auniversal joint 55 with a similar shaft 55, Figs. 1 and 4, mounted belowand parallel to the shaft 5. The latter shaft is screw threaded for aportion of its distance, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and a nut5'7, Fig. 4, engages this threaded portion of the shaft and is securedrigidly to a sprocket wheel 58 which is connected by a chain 60 with asimilar sprocket wheel on the shaft 56. Another sprocket and chainconnection .61 is provided between the shaft 54 and a nut engaging thethreaded portion of the shaft'4. The shaft 54 also is equipped with acrank 62 by means of which it may be revolved. Rotation of the shaft 54by the crank 62 also revolves the shaft 56 simultaneously with it. Itwill be clear from an inspection of Fig. 4 that such rotation of theshaft 56 revolves the nut 57, and since the shaft 5 is stationary atthis time, the nut travels along this shaft in a direction dependingupon the direction of revolution of the nut, and it slides the carrier3, cam 21 and bracket 23 longitudinally of the shaft 5 due to the slipconnection 64 provided between the nut and the cam 21. Similarconnections are provided to adjust the carrier 2, its supporting bracket24, and its cooperating cam in a direction parallel to the shaft 4. Thisadjustment also is facilitated by the scale 65, Fig. 4, which is locatedon a stationary part of the frame and cooperates with a pointer 66fastened to a part rigid with the bracket 23 to indicate the spacing ofthe carriers. Consequently, by rotating the crank 62 the carriers may beset for a variety of widths of webs.

When the machine is running the friction between the connection 64 andnut 57 of the carrier 3 added to that between the corresponding parts ofthe other carrier, should be sufficient to revolve the shafts 54 and 56since otherwise the carriers 1 will be adjusted in or out automaticallyand at undesirable times. In order, therefore, to ensure the presence ofsufficient friction between these parts to accomplish'this object, thenut 57. preferably is equipped with a friction device, such as g thatshown in Fig. '7. It consists simply of a piece of asbestos brake lining63 arranged to engage the grooved collar 64 and is pressed against saidcollar by coiled springs '70--7O which are backed up by a spring strip71 that is held to the 1 be stretched as it passes through the machine.

nut 57 by screws 72'72. Thenutfor the other carrier 2 preferably isequipped with a similar friction device.

The degree to which any web of fabric will be stretched in the machinedepends upon the angle of the carriers 2 and 3 and upon the lengths ofthe diverging portions of the paths of travel of the grippers duringwhich they grasp the opposite edges of the web. Consequently, adjustmentof this extent of stretch can be made either by adjusting the angle ofdivergence of the carriers, or by varying the point at which the fabricis engaged by the grippers and is-released by them. The first mentionedmethod, however, is simpler and is therefore preferred. Referring toFig. 2 it will be observed that the bed piece is slotted near itsopposite ends to receive bolts 67 which secure it to the main frame ofthe machine but permit it to be adjusted'angularly with reference tosaid frame. A similar arrangement is pro.- vided for securing the bedpieces 51,52, 53 to the frame. This arrangment therefore permitsadjustment of the angle of divergence of the car riers to vary thedegree to which the fabric will If this angle is changed greatly it maybe necessary to change the gears 6 and {'on the inner ends of the shaftsland 5, or auniversal joint may be provided at this point to connectthese shafts to each other.

It will be seen from an inspection of Figs. 1 and i that the bar-shapedportions of the gripper arms 15 are curved circumferentially around theaxis of th respective shafts on which they revolve and that they arelocated so close to each other that each series of bars formsapproximately a. continuous circular support for the web. As the tensionon the web is increased bythe movement of the two series of grippersaway from each other, the grip of the jaws 12 and 13 on the edge. of thefabric is increased by this increasing tension due to the fact that thetighter the web is pulled the more strongly it tends to swing the arm15, Fig. 4, downwardly, thus tend "i ing to move the jaw 12 upwardlyinto firmerengagement with the upper jaw 13 which is held rigidly in afixed position at this time. In other words, the arm 15 and jaw 12 formalever through which the tension on the web operates to increase Ii thepressure with which the gripper grasps the margin of the fabric. Itshould be noted that this upper jaw is locked in its holding or grippingposition by its connection with the slide 17. This will be clear from aninspection of Fig. 4,

'i it being observed that any unlocking movement part of the cam 21 androll 20, therefore, is required to hold the upper jaw in its grippingposition.

In adjusting the machine for different widths .l of fabrics the edgeguiding fingers 28 and 29 may rigidly but adjustably with the bracket 24so that the finger 28 will be adjusted in unison with the bracket 24 butmay also be adjusted relatively to it. A similar construction may beused for n the finger 29.

The invention thus provides a machine which greatly reduces the handlabor involved in stretching the webs of felt between successive pullingoperations. Noton'ly is the labor reduced, but the stretch imparted'tothe fabric is far more uniform than it can be when performed by hand. Atthe same time any substantial danger of injuring the goods is avoided. 1

While we have herein shown and described preferred embodiments of ourinvention, it will be evident that the invention may be embodied inother forms withoutde'parting from the spirit or scope thereof.

-Having thus described our invention, what we desire to claim as new is:

I. In a felt stretching machine, the combination of a carrier, a seriesof grippers mounted thereon, each of said grippers includinga relativelystationary jaw and a movable jaw mounted to swing into'open and closedrelationship to the relatively stationary jaw, and means'for operatingsaid swinging jaw, said relatively stationary jaw being mounted forlimited movement toward and from the other jaw and having an arm to beengaged by the web of felt for causing an increase in the tension ofsaid web to move said relatively stationaryjaw into firmer engagementwith said movable jaw.

2. In a felt stretching machine, the combination of a carrier, a seriesof independent grippers mounted thereon, each of said grippers includinga relatively stationary-jaw and'a movable jaw mounted to'swing-into openand closed relationship to the relatively stationary jaw, and means foroperating said swinging jaw comprising a cam and a slide operated bysaid cam and connected with said swinging'jaw to'operate the latter jaw.3. In a felt stretching machine, the combination of a carrier, aseriesof grippers mounted thereon, each of said grippers including arelatively stationary jaw and a movable jaw mounted to swing into openand closed relationship to the relatively stationary jaw, means foroperating said swinging jaw to open and close it and to lock it againstopening movement when it is in its closed position, said relativelystationary'jaw being mounted for limited swinging movement toward andfrom the other jaw when the latter is in its closed position and havingan arm to be engaged by the tensioned web of felt at a point relativelyremote from said jaw for causing an increase in the tension on said webto swing said relatively stationary jaw toward the other jaw and therebyto increase the grip of said jaws on the web of felt. V

4. In a felt stretching machine, the combination of a carrier, a seriesof grippers mounted thereon, each of said grippers including arelatively stationary jaw and a movable jaw mounted to wing into openand closed relationship to the relatively stationary jaw, means foroperating said swinging jaw comprising a cam, a slide operated by saidcam, and a link connecting said slide with said jaw and arranged to beswung into position to lock the jaw against opening movement when thejaw has been closed.

5. In a felt stretching machine, the combination of a carrier, a seriesof grippers mounted thereon, each of said grippers including arelatively stationary jaw and a movable jaw mounted to swing into openand closed relationship to the relatively stationary jaw, one of saidjaws having a rounded groove and the other a rounded rib to fit in saidgroove, said rounded surfaces serving to grip the web of felt, means foroperating said swinging jaw to open and close it, said relativelystationary jaw being mounted for limited swinging movement toward andfrom its companion jaw when the latter is in its closed position andhaving a T-shaped arm 15 extending forwardly and cooperating with therelatively stationary jaw to form a lever, the bar at the end of saidarm being curved around the axis 'of said carrier'and being adapted toengage the tensioned'web of felt at a point spaced substantially fromthe jaws.

6. In a felt stretching machine, the combination of two opposed seriesof independent grippers for engaging the opposite margins of a web offelt, means for supporting the two series of grippers for movement inpaths spaced apart and including portions diverging from each other,means for operating said grippers to cause them to grasp the edges of aweb of felt as they travel past points in their paths of movement wherethe opposed grippers of the two series are relatively close to eachother and to release said web at points where they are farther apart,whereby the grippers will stretch the felt as they move along saiddiverging paths, said grippers forming the means for supporting themargins of said web of felt and having rounded surfaces to engage andgrip said web, and means engaged by the tensioned web of felt andcooperating with said grippers to cause an increase in the strain onsaid web to increase the pressure exerted by said grippers on said web.

'7. In a felt stretching machine, the combination of two rotarycarriers, means for supporting said carriers in spaced relationship andat an angle to each other, whereby the planes of the carriers divergefrom each other, two opposed series of independent grippers mounted,respectively, on said carriers for rotation therewith, mechanism forrevolving said carriers in unison, mechanism for opening said grippersat a substantially predetermined point in their paths of travel andclosing them at another point, means for guiding the edges of a web offelt into position to be seized by opposed grippers while they are opento cause the grippers to stretch the web of felt between them as theyare moved by said carriers along diverging paths, said grippers formingthe means for supporting the opposite margins of said web of felt andeach gripper comprising two jaws relatively movable into open and closedrelationship, means tending to hold one jaw of each gripper in arelatively fixed relationship to its supporting means but permitting itsmovement out of said relationship, and means for engaging the tensionedweb of felt between the points at which they are gripped by opposinggrippers and causing the tension on the web of felt to operate throughsaid relatively fixed jaws to increase the pressure exerted by thegrippers on the margins of felt when the tension on the web isincreased.

8. In a felt stretching machine, the combination of a rotary carrier, aseries of independent grippers mounted thereon to grasp the margin of aweb of felt, each of said grippers comprising two jaws relativelymovable into open and closed relationship, a cam mounted immediatelybeside said carrier, a slide associated with each gripper, a rollcarried by each slide and arranged to be operated by said cam, andconnections between each slide and one of the jaws of its respectivegripper for causing said cam to operate the latter aw.

9. In a felt stretching machine, the combination of two rotary carriers,means for supporting said carriers in spaced relationship and at anangle to each other' whereby the planes of the carriers diverge fromeach other, two opposed series of grippers mounted, respectively, onsaid carriers for rotation therewith, mechanism for revolving saidcarriers in unison comprising two shafts on which the carriers aremounted, a supporting bracket for each of said carriers, guides on whichsaid brackets are mounted for adjusting movement of the carriers towardand from each other, two adjusting shafts for said respective bracketslocated parallel to said carrier shafts, respectively, and connectedtogether for rotation in unison, two nuts screw threaded, respectively,on said carrier shafts and cooperating with the carriers to move themlongitudinally of their respective shafts when the nuts are relativelyrevolved on the carrier shafts, and driving connections between saidadjusting shafts and their respective carrier shafts for producingrelative rotation of said nuts on their carrier shafts to effect saidadjustment.

' JAMES G. BOWDEN.

JOHN W. NORTON.

